Fire hydrant spray device

ABSTRACT

A recreational spray device is adapted to be installed on a conventional fire hydrant and comprises spray passage means and a spray valve. The spray passage means is connected at one end to the hydrant inlet and has a spray head at its other end. The spray passage means is arranged so that the spray device is operable even though the main hydrant valve is closed. The spray valve controls the flow in the spray passage means and is normally closed, but the spray valve may be manually opened and will automatically close after a period of time. Thus, the spray device uses only a small amount of water and prevents an excessive pressure drop in the hydrant water system.

United States Patent Sutton [4 1 Mar. 21, 1972 [54] FIRE HYDRANT SPRAY DEVICE 72] Inventor: Raymond Sutton, 1104 Crest Lane, gyzg jgagfig fs z Western Springs, 111. 60 Atzorney--Hibben, Noyes & Bicknell [22] Filed: Jan. 22, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 108,930 I A recreational spray device 18 adapted to be installed on a conventional fire hydrant and comprises spray passage means and [52] [1.5. CI. .239/67, 137/272 a spray valve. The spray passage means is connected at one [51 Int. C1 ..A01g 27/00 end to the hydrant inlet and has a spray head at its other end. [58] Field of Search ..239/200, 201 202, 273, 67, The spray passage means is arranged so that the spray device 239/63 569 602 148 558; 137/272 300, 560, 562 is operable even though the main hydrant valve is closed. The spray valve controls the flow in the spray passage means and is [56] References cu normally closed, but the spray valve may be manually opened and will automatically close after a period of time. Thus, the UNITED STATES PATENTS spray device uses only a small amount of water and prevents an excessive pressure drop in the hydrant water system. 724,742 4/1903 Sandbo ..'..l37/200 2,759,766 8/1956 Thomas ..239/558 15 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures FIRE HYDRANT SPRAY DEVICE This invention relates to a spray device and more particularly to a spray device for a fire hydrant.

Heretofore, either a fire hydrant was simply opened, or a conventional prior art spray device was attached to the fire hydrant to provide recreation for children. The prior art spray device usually was connected to the hose outlet of the hydrant, and the hydrant valve was turned to an open position to permit the water to spray out the device. The disadvantage of this construction is that usually a person of considerable strength is required, such as an adult, in order to install and to turn on the spray. Thus, many times the children alone cannot use the spray. An even more serious disadvantage is that all too frequently no one turns the hydrant off, and on hot days many hydrants are left open even though no persons are using the sprays. The result is that the water pressure in the hydrant system is low, endangering lives should there be a fire, and water is needlessly wasted.

The spray device of the present invention overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages. The spray device is in the form of an attachment adapted to be used with a conventional fire hydrant and comprises spray passage means which is adapted to be connected at one end to the hydrant inlet and has a spray nozzle at its other end. The spray passage means also has a spray valve which is normally closed but is readily openable so that a child desiring to use the spray may easily do so. The spray valve, after a predetermined period of time, automatically closes, but the valve can be operated repeatedly. Thus, only the amount of water necessary for recreation is permitted to flow through the spray device, and the pressure in the hydrant system is not adversely affected.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved spray device for use with a fire hydrant.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved spray device which will not waste water.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a spray device of the foregoing character which can be easily installed on present fire hydrants.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying figures of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a fire hydrant embodying a spray device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view ofthe fire hydrant shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of 7 FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, with parts in elevation, taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the spray valve shown in FIG. 3.

In FIG. I is illustrated a conventional fire hydrant on which the spray device of the present invention is installed. The hydrant comprises a body forming a hydrant passage and a hydrant valve assembly 11 for controlling the flow in the hydrant passage. In this instance, the body 10 of the hydrant comprises a bottom portion or elbow 12 having flanges l4 and 16, a tubular center portion or stand pipe 18 having flanges 20 and 22, and a dome-shaped top portion or cap 24 having a flange 26 and branched hose outlets 28 (FIG. 2) closed by threaded outlet caps 30 (FIG. 2). The flanges l6 and 20 are connected by bolts (not shown). The elbow 12 has a hydrant inlet 32 connected to the hydrant water supply, as indicated schematically by the arrows 34. A removable valve seat ring 36 is threaded into a bore 38 in the elbow 12. The cap 24 has a central boss 40 with an opening 42 therethrough for a hydrant valve operating mechanism, as hereinafter described.

The hydrant valve assembly 11 comprises a valve body 44 suspended on a tubular shaft 46 (the shaft 46 replaces a solid shaft or stem found in a conventional fire hydrant), a threaded rod or screw 48 having an enlarged axially recessed socket 50 at one end, and an internally threaded member or nut 52. The hydrant valve assembly 11, except for the tubular shaft 46, is conventional. The valve body 44 has a bore 44' through its center and engages a valve seat portion 36' on the lower end of the ring 36. A conventional drip shut-off 45 having a pair of oppositely spaced vertical members or wings 45' is carried on the shaft 46 at the upper portion of the valve body 44, and the wings 45 engage cooperating grooves 49 in the upper end of the valve seat ring 36 for guiding and preventing rotation of the valve body 44. The valve seat ring 36 and the elbow 12 are provided with the usual drain passages (not shown) for draining the hydrant body 10 when the valve assembly 11 is closed, and the outer edges of the wings 45' are provided with seal strips (not shown) for closing the drain passages when the valve assembly 11 is open. The shaft 46 has a shoulder, which engages a complementary shoulder on the drip shut-off 45, and a nut 54 is secured at the lower end of the shaft 46 to retain the valve body 44 and the drip shut-off 45 on the shaft. The upper end of the shaft 46 is held in the socket 50 of the rod 48 by a pin 56. The threaded rod 48, in turn, is adjustably mounted in a threaded bore 58 in the lower end of the member 52. The member 52 has an upper portion 60 which extends into the bore 42 of the boss 40 in the dome cap 24 and a square end on the portion 60 engages a square socket 62' formed in a wrench nut or head 62. The wrench nut 62 and the member 52 are secured together by a screw 60. An O-ring nut 61 is threaded onto the upper portion 60 and carries O-rings 61 which seal the spaces between the nut 61, the boss 40 and the member 52. The upper internally threaded end of the O- ring nut 61 has a noncircular exterior shape and is received in a similarly shaped socket at the lower end of the wrench nut 62.

Rotation of the head 62 with a tool, such as a special wrench, causes the member 52 to rotate, and in turn the rod 48, which is held against rotation by the vertical members 45', will move up or down in the member 52. Thus, the valve body 44 is made to engage and disengage the valve seat portion 36' ofthe ring 36 to permit or prevent water flow in the hydrant.

Normally, the hydrant valve assembly 11 is kept closed and would be opened only during an emergency. However, with spray devices of the prior art which usually were connected to one of the hose outlets 28, it was necessary to open the hydrant valve assembly 11 in order to use the spray device. As was mentioned, this construction is disadvantageous since usually an adult person is needed to install and operate the spray device. Further, such devices are frequently left on, and the water continues to run even though no one is using the spray, thus causing a dangerous drop in hydrant system water pressure.

The present invention eliminates these disadvantages by providing a novel and useful spray device or attachment which can be installed and operated easily and which will use a minimum amount of water and will turn off automatically. The

spray device is adapted to be installedon a conventional fire hydrant and comprises a spray passage means and a spray valve 63 (FIGS. 2-5). The spray passage means has a spray nozzle or head at one end and is independently connected to the water source 34 at the other end so that the hydrant valve may be kept closed. The spray valve is normally closed and may be manually opened, but after a short period of time which may be varied, such as several minutes, the spray valve automatically closes.

As is shown in FIG. 1, the spray passage means includes the tubular shaft 46 which has one end 66 exposed below the valve body 44 to the hydrant inlet 32, the other end of the tubular shaft 46 being closed by a threaded plug 68. The tubular shaft 46 is in communication through a. pipe nipple 70 and an elbow 72 with a flexible hose 74 which permits the valve body 44 and tubular shaft 46 to move freely during opening or closing of the hydrant valve assembly 11. The hose 74 extends upwardly into the dome-shaped cap 24 and terminates in an elbow 76 which, in turn, is secured to a spray housing 80, as hereinafter described. Thus, water may flow from the hydrant source 34 to the spray housing 80 even though the hydrant valve assembly 11 is closed.

As is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the spray housing 80 is in the form of a thick annular member or disk having a center opening 81 and fitting in between the tubular center portion 18 and the cap 24 of the conventional fire hydrant body 10. The member 80 is held in place by bolts 82 which fit in bores 84 and 86 in the flanges 22 and 26 and in aligned bores 88 in the member 80. Gaskets 90 are provided to seal the opposite faces of the member 80 water tight.

While portions of the spray passage means and the spray valve 63 could be provided elsewhere, in this instance they are located in the member 80. As is shown in FIG. 3, the spray passage means further includes a radial passage 92 in the member 80 connecting with the elbow 76 and closed at its outer end by a plug 93. The passage 92 is intersected by a passage 94 which is closed at its outer end by a plug 95. As best shown in FIG. 5, the passage 94 intersects a radial bore in the member 80 which receives the spray valve 63 and has an outer portion 98, an enlarged threaded portion 100, a further enlarged portion 102, and a still further enlarged inner portion 103. For manufacturing convenience, the bore portions 98, 100, 102 and 103 may be made by drilling through the disk or member 80, such as at the opposite side, the opening made in the opposite side being sealed by a welded plug 104 (FIG. 3). Locating the smallest diameter bore portion 98 in the outer portion ofthe disk 80 makes removal of the spray valve'63 impossible without disassembly of the hydrant and prevents unauthorized persons from so doing. A passage 106 communicates at one end with the bore portion 100 and at its other end is closed by a plug 108. A radial bore 110 extends into the member 80 from the outside thereof to intersect the passage 106, and a conventional spray nozzle or head 1 12 is secured in the outer end of the passage 110. As seen in FIG. 2, the spray nozzle 112 is located between the hydrant outlets 28 which usually extend outwardly toward the street. Thus, water can flow from the source 34 to the spray head 112 out into the street when the spray valve 63 is open.

The spray valve 63 is shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and and is of a conventional dashpot type. The spray valve 63 comprises a valve or sliding member 116, a compression spring 118, a check or one-way valve 120 and leakage means 122. In this instance, the valve member 116 has a stem with an exposed outer push button end 124, an enlarge diameter portion having a seal ring 126, and an inner tapered portion 128. The tapered portion 128 of the valve member 116 seats on a surface 130 of the disk 80'between the bore portions 98 and 100 to close offthe water flow in the spray passage. One end of the spring 118 abuts the base of an axial recess 117 (FIG. 5) in an enlarged inner end portion 119 of the valve member 116. A valve cap 132 containing the check valve 120 is threaded into the bore portion 100 and receives the end portion 119 which carries a seal ring 121. The opposite end of the spring 118 abuts the cap 132 so that the spring 118 urges the valve member 116 to a normally closed position. To facilitate the use of a wrench in installing the cap 132, a pair of flats 131 (FIG. 4) are formed on its exposed end. The spray valve 63 may be opened by manually pushing the button end 124 of the valve member 116 so that the tapered portion 128 moves away from the surface 130 to permit water from the passage 94 to flow through the valve 63 to the passage 106 and the spray head 112.

As the valve member 116 is pushed inwards, the inner end portion 119 of that member moves in a bore 134 in the cap 132 to drive the air out ofa chamber 135 formed between the cap 132 and the valve member 116. The air is expelled througha passage 140 and the check valve 120, and the valve member 116 is then held in the open position by the vacuum in the chamber 135. It is to be understood that a dash-pot-type valve utilizing a fluid other than air may also be used.

The check valve 120 comprises, in this instance, a ball 136, a spring 138 and passages 142, 144 and 146 (FIG. 4) in the cap 132. One end of the passage 144 is closed bya plug 148, and the outer end of the passage 146 contains a filter element or breather plug 150 (FIG 4), such as a porous bronze bushing which permits air to pass but prevents contaminants from entering the spray valve 63.

Leakage means 122 is provided for allowing air to return to the chamber 135 and comprises, in this instance, a passage 154 in the valve member 116 having its exposed end outside the disk closed by a filter element 156, which is similar to the element 150. Within an enlarged inner portion of the passage 154 is threaded a needle valve 158 having a groove 159 along its length. The needle valve 158 is adjustable and regulates the rate of air leakage into the passage 154 and the chamber 135. After a passage of time, which depends upon the needle valve setting, sufficient air leaks into the chamber to eliminate the vacuum, and the spring 118 causes the valve member 116 to close the spray valve 63 automatically and stop the flow of water. Of course, the cycle can be repeated as often as desired by depressing the button end 124 of the valve member 116.

In order to prevent removal of or damage to the spray head 112 and the spray valve 63, annular guard rings 160 (FIGS. 2 and 3) are secured to the member 80. The spray head 112 also has a specially shaped outer portion to prevent removal by means of an ordinary socket wrench.

To install the spray device or attachment of the present invention in a conventional fire hydrant, the cap 24', the valve seat 36 and the hydrant valve assembly 11 are removed first. Then the conventional valve operating stem is replaced by the tubular member 46 having the connections 70, 72 and 74. The valve assembly and the valve seat 36 are then reinstalled and the spray housing unit 80 is connected to the hose 74 and mounted between the cap 24 and tubular center portion 18 by means ofextra length bolts 82 in place of the original bolts.

Thus, it is apparent that a novel and useful spray device for use with a conventional fire hydrant has been provided which is connected to the hydrant water supply independently of the hydrant valve and which has a spray valve which is normally closed but which may be manually opened and automatically closed after a period of time.

Iclaim:

1. In combination with a hydrant having a body forming a water passage with a water inlet and a water outlet, a hydrant valve in said water passage between said inlet and said outlet, and valve operating means for moving said hydrant valve between open and closed positions; a spray attachment comprising a spray housing detachably mounted on said body, a spray nozzle carried by said housing, a spray valve carried by said housing, and separate spray passage means connected at one end to said spray nozzle and communicating at its other end with said water inlet, whereby said spray nozzle can be operated when said hydrant valve is closed, said spray valve being interposed in said spray passage means between said water inlet and said spray nozzle, and said spray valve being normally closed and having manually operable means for opening the same and means for automatically closing the same after a predetermined time delay.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said spray passage means includes first fluid passage means in said housing connecting said spray valve withlsaid spray nozzle and second fluid passage means within said body connecting said water inlet with said first fluid passage means.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said body has detachably connected portions, and said spray housing is connected between said portions.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said body has a tubular portion and a detachable top portion, andsaid spray housing comprises an annular member interposed between said tubular portion and said top portion, said spray nozzle and said manually operable means of said spray valve extending outwardly from said annular member.

5. The combination of claim 2, wherein said valve operating means includes an axially movable elongated member connected to said hydrant valve, and said second fluid passage means includes aflexible hose connected to said first fluid passage means and a tubular passage extending through said elongated member and through said hydrant valve, said tubular passage communicating with said water inlet at one side of said hydrant valve and being connected to said flexible hose at the opposite side of said hydrant valve.

6. The combination of claim 2, wherein said spray valve comprises a dash-pot-type valve having a sliding valve member, resilient means urging said valve member to a normally closed position, manually operable means accessible from the exterior of said housing for moving said valve member to open position, means defining a fluid chamber into which said valve member extends, check valve means permitting fluid to be expelled rapidly from said chamber in response to movement of said valve member to said open position, and fluid leakage means permitting fluid to re-enter said chamber slowly and eventually allowing said resilient means to return said valve member to said closed position.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein said fluid chamber comprises an air chamber, said body comprises detachably connected portions, and said housing comprises an annular member interposed between said portions, said spray valve extending between the inner and outer peripheries of said annular member, said check valve means including a check valve passage communicating between said air chamber and the interior of said body at the inner periphery of said annular member, and said leakage means including a restricted leakage passage communicating between said air chamber and the outside air at the outer periphery of said annular member.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein said leakage means also includes an adjustable valve coacting with said leakage passage to regulate the rate of air leakage therethrough.

9. A spray device for attachment to a hydrant having a hollow body forming a water passage with a water inlet and a water outlet, a hydrant valve in said water passage between said inlet and said outlet, and valve operating means for moving said hydrant valve between open and closed positions; said spray device comprising a spray housing adapted to be detachably mounted on the hydrant body, a spray nozzle carried by said housing, a spray valve carried by said housing, and separate spray passage means connected at one end to said spray nozzle and adapted to communicate at its other end with the water inlet, whereby said spray nozzle can be operated when the hydrant valve is closed, said spray valve being interposed in said spray passage means between the water inlet and said spray nozzle, and said spray valve being normally closed and having manually operable means for opening the same and means for automatically closing the same after a predetermined time delay.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said spray passage means includes first fluid passage means in said housing connecting said spray valve with said spray nozzle and second fluid passage means adapted to connect the water inlet with said first fluid passage means.

11. The device ofclaim 10, wherein said spray housing comprises an annular member adapted to be interposed between detachably connected portions of the hydrant body, said spray nozzle and said manually operable means of said spray valve extending outwardly from said annular member.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein said second fluid passage means includes a flexible hose connected at one end to said first fluid passage means and adapted to be connected at its other end to a tubular passage extending through said hydrant valve.

13. The combination of claim 10, wherein said spray valve comprises a dash-pot-type valve having a sliding valve member, resilient means urging said valve member to a normally closed position, manually operable means accessible from the exterior of said housing for moving said valve member to an open position, means defining a fluid chamber into which said valve member extends, check valve means permitting fluid to be expelled rapidly from said chamber in response to movement ofsaid valve member to said open position, and fluid leakage means permitting fluid to re-enter said chamber slowly and eventually allowing said resilient means to return said valve member to said closed position.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said fluid chamber comprises an air chamber, said housing comprises an annular member adapted to be interposed between detachably connected portions of the hydrant body, said spray valve extending between the inner and outer peripheries of said annular member, said check valve means including a check valve passage communicating between said air chamber and the inner periphery of said annular member, and said leakage means including a restricted leakage passage communicating between said air chamber and the outer periphery of said annular member.

15. The device ofclaim 14, wherein said leakage means also includes an adjustable valve coacting with said leakage passage to regulate the rate of air leakage therethrough. 

1. In combination with a hydrant having a body forming a water passage with a water inlet and a water outlet, a hydrant valve in said water passage between said inlet and said outlet, and valve operating means for moving said hydrant valve between open and closed positions; a spray attachment comprising a spray housing detachably mounted on said body, a spray nozzle carried by said housing, a spray valve carried by said housing, and separate spray passage means connected at one end to said spray nozzle and communicating at its other end with said water inlet, whereby said spray nozzle can be operated when said hydrant valve is closed, said spray valve being interposed in said spray passage means between said water inlet and said spray nozzle, and said spray valve being normally closed and having manually operable means for opening the same and means for automatically closing the same after a predetermined time delay.
 2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said spray passage means includes first fluid passage means in said housing connecting said spray valve with said spray nozzle and second fluid passage means within said body connecting said water inlet with said first fluid passage means.
 3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said body has detachably connected portions, and said spray housing is connected between said portions.
 4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said body has a tubular portion and a detachable top portion, and said spray housing comprises an annular member interposed between said tubular portion and said top portion, said spray nozzle and said manually operable means of said spray valve extending outwardly from said annular member.
 5. The combination of claim 2, wherein said valve operating means includes an axially movable elongated member connected to said hydrant valve, and said second fluid passage means includes a flexible hose connected to said first fluid passage means and a tubular passage extending through said elongated member and through said hydrant valve, said tubular passage communicating with said water inlet at one side of said hydrant valve and being connected to said flexible hose at the opposite side of said hydrant valve.
 6. The combination of claim 2, wherein said spray valve comprises a dash-pot-type valve having a sliding valve member, resilient means urging said valve member to a normally closed position, manually operable means accessible from the exterior of said housing for moving said valve member to open position, means defining a fluid chamber into which said valve member extends, check valve means permitting fluid to be expelled rapidly from said chamber in response to movement of said valve member to said open position, and fluid leakage means permitting fluid to re-enter said chamber slowly and eventually allowing said resilient means to return said valve member to said closed position.
 7. The combination of claim 6, wherein said fluid chamber comprises an air chamber, said body comprises detachably connected portions, and said housing comprises an annular member interposed between said portions, said spray valve extending between the inner and outer peripheries of said annular member, said check valve means including a check valve passage communicating between said air chamber and the interior of said body at the inner periphery of said annular member, and said leakage means including a restricted leakage passage communicating between said air chamber and the outside air at the outer periphery of said annular member.
 8. The combination of claim 7, wherein said leakage means also includes an adjustable valve coacting with said leakage passage to regulate the rate of air leakage therethrough.
 9. A spray device for attachment to a hydrant having a hollow body forming a water passage with a water inlet and a water outlet, a hydrant valve in said water passage between said inlet and said outlet, and valve operating means for moving said hydrant valve between open and closed poSitions; said spray device comprising a spray housing adapted to be detachably mounted on the hydrant body, a spray nozzle carried by said housing, a spray valve carried by said housing, and separate spray passage means connected at one end to said spray nozzle and adapted to communicate at its other end with the water inlet, whereby said spray nozzle can be operated when the hydrant valve is closed, said spray valve being interposed in said spray passage means between the water inlet and said spray nozzle, and said spray valve being normally closed and having manually operable means for opening the same and means for automatically closing the same after a predetermined time delay.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein said spray passage means includes first fluid passage means in said housing connecting said spray valve with said spray nozzle and second fluid passage means adapted to connect the water inlet with said first fluid passage means.
 11. The device of claim 10, wherein said spray housing comprises an annular member adapted to be interposed between detachably connected portions of the hydrant body, said spray nozzle and said manually operable means of said spray valve extending outwardly from said annular member.
 12. The device of claim 10, wherein said second fluid passage means includes a flexible hose connected at one end to said first fluid passage means and adapted to be connected at its other end to a tubular passage extending through said hydrant valve.
 13. The combination of claim 10, wherein said spray valve comprises a dash-pot-type valve having a sliding valve member, resilient means urging said valve member to a normally closed position, manually operable means accessible from the exterior of said housing for moving said valve member to an open position, means defining a fluid chamber into which said valve member extends, check valve means permitting fluid to be expelled rapidly from said chamber in response to movement of said valve member to said open position, and fluid leakage means permitting fluid to re-enter said chamber slowly and eventually allowing said resilient means to return said valve member to said closed position.
 14. The device of claim 13, wherein said fluid chamber comprises an air chamber, said housing comprises an annular member adapted to be interposed between detachably connected portions of the hydrant body, said spray valve extending between the inner and outer peripheries of said annular member, said check valve means including a check valve passage communicating between said air chamber and the inner periphery of said annular member, and said leakage means including a restricted leakage passage communicating between said air chamber and the outer periphery of said annular member.
 15. The device of claim 14, wherein said leakage means also includes an adjustable valve coacting with said leakage passage to regulate the rate of air leakage therethrough. 